Jorge Lorenzo trims gap to Pedrosa with victory

Reuters, MONTMELO, Spain

Mon, Jun 17, 2013 - Page 20

Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo trimmed the gap to championship leader Dani Pedrosa at the top of the MotoGP standings to seven points when he stormed to victory at a sweltering Catalunya Grand Prix yesterday.

The Spanish world champion beat compatriot and Honda pilot Pedrosa to the first corner and pulled away in the latter stages to earn his second consecutive win at the Montmelo circuit near Barcelona.

Marc Marquez completed an all-Spanish podium when he finished just behind Pedrosa in third.

“Right from the first corner we were having huge problems with the front tire but I imagine all the riders were as the temperature was horrible,” Lorenzo said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Telecinco.

“It was extremely hot and the tires lost a lot of performance, but as I said the start was crucial and I got a better start than I expected and was able to get past Dani at the first corner,” he said.

“It was a bit like cat and mouse but towards the end I was able to push a bit harder and I was able to win such a tough and physically challenging race,” Loenzo said.